Water-supply mechanism in the boiler of garment steamer

ABSTRACT

The water-supply mechanism of the boiler in the garment steamer of the present utility, it relates to a water-supply assembly of a steamer. The rear side of the housing of the boiler has a groove for placing an open outer water box, the bottom of said groove has a through hole for the protective pipe of the outlet of said outer water box going through and a downward extending lower flange surrounds said through hole; a check valve is fixed on the lower flange of the bottom of said groove; a water inlet on the top end of valve body of the check valve straightly faces the through hole of said groove; a water outlet of the bottom of valve body of the check valve communicates with the water inlet of the inner water box; a spring is disposed in the valve body of said check valve, said spring pushes the flange of the outer periphery of the plug in the check valve toward the water inlet of the valve body, and make the protruding portion of the upper end of the plug in said check valve extend into the protective pipe of the water outlet of said outer water box to push the plug of the water outlet of said outer water box. It is convenient for adding water into the outer water box, and the manufacture cost is relatively lower.

FIELD OF THE UTILITY

The present utility relates to a water-supply assembly in the steamer device.

BACKGROUND OF THE UTILITY

The sectional structure of a conventional boiler of garment steamer is showed in FIG. 1: an inner water box 2 is installed in the inner space 11 of the housing 1. The bottom of inner water box 2 is installed with an electric heating plate 3. The side wall of the inner water box 2 has a water inlet 21 close to the bottom of the inner water box 2, a steam pipe 22 is disposed on the top of the inner water box 2; said steam pipe 22 goes through the housing 1 and is leaded outside. The rear side of the housing 1 has groove 12 much higher than the electric heating plate 3 of the bottom of the inner water box 2, the bottom of said groove has a through hole 13; the lower surface of the bottom of said groove 12 has a circular lower flange 18 extending downward and surrounding the through hole 13. A sink 5 with an upward opening is fixed on said lower flange 18. The bottom of the sink 5 communicates with the water inlet 21 of the inner water box 2 through the water delivering pipe 4. The inside of the sink 5 has a mandrel 51 extending upward, the upper end of said mandrel 51 straightly faces the through hole 13 of the groove 12. The groove 12 of the housing 1 has a closed outer water box 6. FIG. 2 shows the details of the water being supplied by the outer water box 6 to the inner water box 2. The bottom of the outer water box 6 has a water outlet 61. The lower surface of the bottom of the outer water box 6 has a protective pipe 66 extending downward and surrounding the water outlet 61. A plug 62 which has an I-shaped cross section is disposed on the water outlet 61, the lower portion of said plug 62 which in the protective pipe 66 is sleeved with a spring 63 which leans against the bottom of the outer water box 6. If the outer water box 6 departs from the housing 1, the spring 63 will push the plug 62 outward, so the outer flange of the upper portion of the plug 62 will seal the water outlet 61 of the outer water box 6. If the outer water box 6 is installed on the groove 12 of the housing 1, the protective pipe 66 of the outer water box 6 passes through the through hole 13 of the groove 12 and is inserted into the sink 5, then the mandrel 51 of the sink 5 will jack up the lower surface of the plug 62, so the plug 62 will move upward, the outer flange of the lower portion of the plug 62 will make the spring 63 compress, the outer flange of the upper portion of the plug 62 will depart from the water outlet 61 of the outer water box 6. The water in the outer water box 6 flows into the sink 5 through the water outlet 61, then flows into the inner water box 2 through the water delivering pipe 4, and is heated into steam by the electric heating plate 3, said steam is output through the steam pipe 22. Please note, when the water in the outer water box 6 flows into the sink 5, if the water level in the sink 5 is lower than the lower end surface of the protective pipe 66 of the outer water box 6, then the outer air will enter the sink 5 through the through hole 13 of the bottom of the groove 12 in the housing 1, then enter the outer water box 6 through the inside of the protective pipe 66 and the water outlet 61 of the outer water box 6, so the water in the outer water box 6 will be provided to the sink 5 continuously, and it will be delivered to the inner water box 2 through the water delivering pipe 4, as illustrated by the arrows. If the water level in the sink 5 reaches the lower end surface of the protective pipe 66 of the outer water box 6, then the outer air will not enter the outer water box 6 through the inside of the protective pipe 66 of the outer water box 6 and the water outlet 61 of the outer water box 6, after the water in the outer water box 6 flowing into the sink 5, a negative pressure will be generated, along with increase of said negative pressure, the water in the outer water box 6 will stop flowing into the sink 5. Thus, the water-supply mechanism of the boiler in the garment steam can control the water level in the sink 5 only slightly higher than the lower surface of the protective pipe 66 of the outer water box 6, that is the water level in the inner water box 2 is always kept slightly higher than the lower surface of the protective pipe 66 of the outer water box 6. However, the water addition in this kind of outer water box 6 will be restricted by the plug 62, the speed of water addition is slower, if there is no specialized device, it will be difficult to add water. Further, this kind of the outer water box 6 is difficult to be cleaned.

There is a sectional structure of another conventional kind of boiler in the garment steamer showed in FIG. 3: an inner water box 2 is installed in the inner space 11 of the housing 1. The bottom of the inner water box 2 is installed with an electric heating plate 3. The side wall of the inner water box 2 has a water inlet 21 closes to the bottom, the top of the inner water box 2 has a steam pipe 22 which goes through the housing 1 and is leaded outward. The rear side of the housing 1 has a groove 12, the bottom of the groove 12 has a through hole 13; the lower surface of the bottom of said groove 12 has a circular lower flange 18 extending downward and surrounding the through hole 13. A water pot 5′ with an upward opening is fixed on said lower flange 18. The bottom of the water pot 5′ communicates with the water inlet end of the water pump 7 through the water delivering pipe 4′, the water outlet end of the water pump 7 communicates with the water inlet 21 of the inner water box 2 through another water delivering pipe 4′. The inside of the water pot 5′ has an upward extending mandrel 51′, the upper end of said maindril 51′ straightly faces the through hole 13 of the groove 12. The groove 12 of the housing 1 has an open outer water box 6′, said open outer water box 6′ has a cover 65′. FIG. 4 shows the detailed structure of the water supplied by the outer water box 6′ to the inner water box 2. The bottom of the outer water box 6′ has a water outlet 61′. The lower surface of the bottom of the outer water box 6′ has a protective pipe 66′ extending downward and surrounding the water outlet 61′. A plug 62′ with an I-shaped cross section is disposed on the water outlet 61′, the lower portion of said plug 62′ which is inside the protective pipe 66′ is sleeved with a spring 63′ leaning against the bottom of the outer water box 6′. If the outer water box 6′ departs from the housing 1, then the spring 63′ will push the plug 62′ outward, the outer flange of the upper portion of the plug 62′ will close the water outlet 61′ of the outer water box 6′. If the outer water box 6′ is installed on the groove 12 of the housing 1, the protective pipe 66′ of the outer water box 6′ extends into the through hole 13 of the groove 12 and is inserted in the socket 55′ of the upper end of the water pot 5′, then the pushing rod 51′ of the water pot 5′ will jack up the lower surface of the plug 62′, so the spring 63′ will be compressed, the outer flange of the upper portion of the plug 62′ will depart from the water outlet 61′ of the outer water box 6′. The water in the outer water box 6′ flows into the water pot 5′ through the water outlet 61′. Starting the water pump 7, the water in the water pot 5′ will flow into the inner water box 2 through the two water delivering pipes 4′, then be heated into steam by the electric heating plate 3, said steam is output through the steam pipe 22. Closing the water pump 7, then the water in the water pot 5′ will not enter the inner water box 2. Thus, the water-supply mechanism of this kind of boiler in the garment steamer can control the water level in the inner water box 2 of the water pump 7. After applying the water-supply mechanism of this kind of boiler in the garment steamer, it only needs to open the cover 65′, the water in the outer water box 6′ will be added, the adding speed is rapid and it needs no specialized device. Further, this kind of outer water box 6′ is convenient for cleaning. However, it needs additional water pump and corresponding control circuit in this kind of water-supply mechanism, so the manufacture cost will be increased, the consumption of the electric energy will be increased, too.

SUMMARY OF THE UTILITY

The object of the present utility is to provide a water-supply mechanism of boiler in the garment steamer, which is adaptable in an open outer water box, and the manufacture cost is relatively lower.

The technical solution applied by the present utility is: a water-supply mechanism in the boiler of garment steamer, the rear side of the housing of the boiler has a groove for placing an open outer water box, the bottom of said groove has a through hole for the protective pipe of the outlet of said outer water box going through and a downward extending lower flange surrounds said through hole; a check valve is fixed on the lower flange of the bottom of said groove; a water inlet on the top end of valve body of the check valve straightly faces the through hole of said groove; a water outlet of the bottom of valve body of the check valve communicates with the water inlet of the inner water box; a spring is disposed in the valve body of said check valve, said spring pushes the flange of the outer periphery of the plug in the check valve toward the water inlet of the valve body, and make the protruding portion of the upper end of the plug in said check valve extend into the protective pipe of the water outlet of said outer water box to push the outlet plug of the water outlet of said outer water box.

When the outer water box is put in the groove of the housing of the boiler and the protective pipe of the outer water box is inserted into the through hole of said groove, the plug of the check valve will push the plug on the water outlet of the outer water box open, the flange of the outer periphery of the plug of the check valve will keep an interval between the water inlet of the upper end of the valve body, so the water in said outer water box will flow into the inner water box through said check valve and the water delivering pipe.

When the protective pipe of the outer water box is extracted from the through hole of said groove, the spring of said check valve will continuously push the plug of said check valve upward, the flange of the outer periphery of the spring of the check valve will close the water inlet of the top end of the valve body, the way from the water delivering pipe and the inner water box to the outside will be cut off; the water in the inner water box will not overflow.

In a preferred embodiment, the valve body of said check valve has a guiding rod extending from its bottom, straightly facing the water inlet of the top end of the valve body and sleeved with said spring.

In a preferred embodiment, the lower surface of the plug in said check valve has a guiding pipe extending downward, the upper end of said spring is sleeved in said guiding pipe.

In a preferred embodiment, a sealing ring with an introversive upper end is disposed between said check valve and the bottom of said groove, the introversive edge of the upper end of said sealing ring seals the outer periphery of the protective pipe on the water outlet of said outer water box.

The water mechanism of the boiler in the garment steamer of the present invention, it discloses a check valve on the bottom of the groove of the housing, the outer periphery of said check valve has a flange; so when the outer water box is put in the groove of the housing, said check valve will push the plug on the water outlet of the outer water box open, the water in the outer water box will flow into the inner water box smoothly. When the outer water box departs from the groove of the housing of the boiler, the water in the outer water box will be blocked by its plug and will not leak; and the water in the inner water box is blocked by the flange of the outer periphery of said check valve and will not outflow. The inside of the valve body of the check valve only has a guiding rod, a spring and a plug, the structure is simple, the manufacture cost is low, further the operation is flexible and reliable. The guiding rod will guide the spring, so the lower portion of the spring will be prevented from displacing and the breakdown caused by the inclining is avoided; and it is convenient for installing the spring in the assembly process. The guiding rod is applied to restrict the spring, so the upper portion of the spring will be prevented from displacing and the breakdown caused by the inclining is avoided; and it is convenient for installing the spring in the assembly process. A sealing ring with an introversive upper end is disposed between the check valve and the lower flange of the bottom of the groove, the protective pipe on the water outlet of the outer water box will be closed from its outer periphery. The water in the outer water box will be effectively prevented from leaking from the outer periphery of the protective pipe; besides, when the outer water box departs from the groove of the housing, the underneath of the introversive edge of said sealing ring will cooperate with the outer flange of the check valve, the sealing effect is better compared to the structure wherein the outer flange of the check valve straightly closes the through hole of the groove in the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional structural view of a conventional boiler in the garment steamer.

FIG. 2 is a sectional structural view of the water-supply mechanism of the boiler in the garment steamer in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional structural view of another conventional boiler in the garment steamer.

FIG. 4 is a sectional structural view of the water-supply mechanism of the boiler in the garment steamer in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional structural view of the boiler in the garment steamer of the present utility.

FIG. 6 is a sectional structural view of the water-supply mechanism of the boiler in the garment steamer in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A sectional structure of the boiler in the garment steamer in the present utility as showed in FIG. 5, the inner space 11 of the housing 1 is installed with an inner water box 2. The bottom of the inner water box 2 is installed with an electric heating plate 3. The side wall of the inner water box 2 has a water inlet 21 close to the bottom portion of the inner water box, the top of the inner water box 2 has a steam pipe 22 which is leaded out from the housing 1 after passing through the housing 1. The rear side of the housing has a groove 12, the bottom of said groove 12 has a through hole 13; the lower surface of the bottom of said groove 12 is disposed with a circular lower flange 18 extending downward and surrounding the through hole 13. A check valve 8 with an open top portion is fixed on the lower flange 18 of the bottom of the groove 12; a sealing ring 9 with an introversive upper end is disposed between the check valve 8 and the lower flange 18 of the bottom of the groove 12. The water outlet on the bottom of the check valve 8 communicates with the water inlet 21 of the inner water box 2. The groove 12 of the housing 1 is placed with an open outer water box 6′ with a cover 65′.

The detailed structure of the water supplied by the outer water box 6′ to the inner water box 2 is showed in FIG. 6. The bottom of the outer water box 6′ has a water outlet 61′. The lower surface of the bottom of the outer water box 6′ has a downward extending protective pipe 66′ which surrounds the water outlet 61′. A plug 62 with an I-shaped cross section is disposed on the water outlet 61′, the lower portion of said plug which is in the protective pipe 66′ is sleeved with a spring 63′ pushing against the bottom of water outlet 61′.

Because the top end of the valve body of the check valve 8 is open, and the check valve 8 is fixed on the lower flange 18 of the bottom of the groove 12; a sealing ring 9 is disposed between the check valve 8 and the lower flange 18 of the bottom of the groove 12. So the introversive edge 92 of the sealing ring 9 which straightly faces the through hole 13 of the groove 12 forms the water inlet on the top end of the valve body of the check valve 8.

A guiding rod 81 is disposed in the valve body of the check valve 8 and extends from the bottom surface of the valve body upward, and it straightly faces the through hole 13 on the groove 12 and the introversive edge 92 of the sealing ring 9. The spring 82 is sleeved said guiding rod 81. The shape of the plug 83 is like a ceremonial hat, the lower surface of said plug 83 has a guiding pipe extending downward, the upper end of the spring 82 is sleeved in said guiding pipe. The spring 82 make the flange of the outer periphery of the plug 83 push against the introversive edge 92 of the sealing ring 9, and make the protruding portion of the upper end of said plug 83 extend toward the introversive edge 92 of the sealing ring 9.

When the outer water box 6′ is installed on the groove 12 of the housing 1, the protective pipe 66′ of the outer water box 6′ passes through the through hole 13 of the groove 12 and then is inserted into the introversive edge 92, the introversive edge 92 is on the upper end 91 of the sealing ring 9 on the upper end of the check valve 8, and the introversive edge 92 closes the protective pipe 66′ of the outer water box 6′ from the outer periphery of the protective pipe 66′. The spring 82 in the valve body of the check valve 8 make the protruding portion on the upper end of the plug 83 extend into the protective pipe 66′ of said outer water box 6′ and push against the lower surface of the plug 62′ on the water outlet 61′ of said outer water box 6′, so the spring 63′ will be compressed, the outer flange on the upper portion of the plug 62′ will depart from the water outlet 61′ of the outer water box 6′. The water in the outer water box 6′ flows into the valve body of the check valve 8 through the water outlet 61′, the interval between the introversive edge 92 of the sealing ring 9 and the flange of the outer periphery of the plug 83. Then the water is delivered into the inner water box 2 through the water delivering pipe 4 from the water outlet 84 of the bottom of the valve body of the check valve 8, until the water level in the inner water box 2 reaches the water level in the outer water box 6′. The water in the inner water box 2 is heated into steam by the electric heating plate 3 and output through the steam pipe 22.

If the outer water box 6′ departs from the housing 1, then the spring 63′ will push the plug 62′ outward due to its recovery force, so the outer flange on the upper portion of the plug 62′ will close the water outlet 61′ of the outer water box 6′. Simultaneously, the spring 82 in the valve body of the check valve 8 pushes the plug 83 upward, so the flange of the outer periphery of the plug 83 will jack up the underneath of the introversive edge 92 of the sealing ring 9, the water way from the inner water box 2 and the water delivering pipe 4 to the outside will be cut off, so water in the inner water box 2 will not leak.

After applying the water-supply mechanism of the boiler in the garment steamer of the present utility, the user only needs to open the cover 65′ to add water into the outer water box 6′. The adding speed is rapid and it needs no specialized device. The outer water box 6′ is easy to be cleaned. The water-supply mechanism of the present utility doesn't need the water pump and the corresponding control circuit, so the manufacture cost will be lower, and the electric energy consumed by the water pump and the corresponding control circuit will be saved.

Although the present utility has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof for carrying out the utility, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present utility which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. 

1. Water-supply mechanism in the boiler of garment steamer, the rear side of the housing of the boiler has a groove for placing an open outer water box, the bottom of said groove has a through hole for the protective pipe of the outlet of said outer water box going through and a downward extending lower flange surrounds said through hole; wherein a check valve is fixed on the lower flange of the bottom of said groove; a water inlet on the top end of valve body of the check valve straightly faces the through hole of said groove; a water outlet of the bottom of valve body of the check valve communicates with the water inlet of the inner water box; a spring is disposed in the valve body of said check valve, said spring pushes the flange of the outer periphery of the plug in the check valve toward the water inlet of the valve body, and make the protruding portion of the upper end of the plug in said check valve extend into the protective pipe of the water outlet of said outer water box to push the plug of the water outlet of said outer water box.
 2. The water-supply mechanism in the boiler of garment steamer according to claim 1, wherein the valve body of said check valve has a guiding rod extending from its bottom, said guiding rod straightly faces the water inlet of the top end of the valve body and sleeved with said spring.
 3. The water-supply mechanism in the boiler of garment steamer according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface of said plug in said check valve has a guiding pipe extending downward, the upper end of said spring is sleeved in said guiding pipe.
 4. The water-supply mechanism in the boiler of garment steamer according to claim 1, wherein a sealing ring with an introversive upper end is disposed between said check valve and the lower flange of the bottom of said groove, the introversive edge on the upper end of said sealing ring seals the protective pipe on the water outlet of said outer water box from the outer periphery of said protective pipe.
 5. The water-supply mechanism in the boiler of garment steamer according to claim 2, wherein a sealing ring with an introversive upper end is disposed between said check valve and the lower flange of the bottom of said groove, the introversive edge on the upper end of said sealing ring seals the protective pipe on the water outlet of said outer water box from the outer periphery of said protective pipe.
 6. The water-supply mechanism in the boiler of garment steamer according to claim 3, wherein a sealing ring with an introversive upper end is disposed between said check valve and the lower flange of the bottom of said groove, the introversive edge on the upper end of said sealing ring seals the protective pipe on the water outlet of said outer water box from the outer periphery of said protective pipe. 